Bench seat conversion

What’s up taco world. I’m wondering if there’s any way to put a bench seat in my 4 door 2007. Would love to have one instead of a center console, but haven’t found any threads on it. Has anyone done it? Thanks

 

I would honestly trade my bench seat for your buckets if you had a 2009 or newer, but 2007 and older doesn't have the side airbags...

 

Are you wondering if the bench from a single cab would fit? Other than finding the seat itself, getting the parts around the shifter to make it look nice?

 

Dang didn’t know I didn’t have side bags. Oh well

 

Correct

 

It should say on the outboard side of each seat if you have airbags; I don't think the Tacoma got side airbags until 2009 though, just like traction control and better ABS...

 

Drive up to Buffalo and we’ll swap in my driveway.

 

I guess you don't care about airbags either...?

 

Nope. Don’t give a shit.

 

Decent chance that you'd have the same mounting holes, somebody with a 2nd gen bench seat could probably take some pics of the mounts.

 

Have a 2009. Can confirm, has side airbags.

 

On another note, wouldn't it be harder to put buckets into an RC with a bench, since the tracks are different? I found a set of bucket seats with airbags, likely out of a wrecked truck, for $350; I ended up not buying them because I found out that I would lose my side airbags. I also feel like the tracks are different in trucks with factory buckets...

 

People have done it but it's not a straightforward swap because the Occupant Classification ECU and weight sensors are different between bench and bucket and do not interchange and thus requires various methods of trickery to make the system still be functional.

I personally don't recommend that people modify safety systems particularly the SRS system because it can put both you and your passenger(s) at risk if it doesn't operate properly which there's no guarantee that it will if it has been modified.

 

I’ve wondered why I didn’t have traction control

 

You in Montana?

 

Well, didn’t really pick it myself. Too late to change it now. Maybe a future mod when I have a family lol

 

NY

 

What’s the risk? Air bags not deploying?

 

Not deploying or not deploying properly, it uses passenger weight to determine when and how to deploy the passenger airbag and seatbelt pre-tensioner.

It may very well work fine but it's not like you can test it, it's one of those systems you hope you never have to find out if it works or not but you hope it does if it needs to.
As such I don't recommend modifying it but people have although I don't know how many have been put to the test but it's your truck your welcome to do with it what you wish just know the risks.

There's several threads about doing the swap on here if you search.

 

The mounting holes are the same. It will bolt right in but you will be left with four holes in the existing carpet because the bench only uses four of the eight mounting holes. You can use any 2nd gen bench seat, airbags or not since you don't have to deal with wiring up the airbags anyways. You will have to get the bench seat seat belts also because the bucket seat seat belts are different. Of course you will probably end up wanting to get new carpet spec for the bench seat and bench seat console as well. The carpet for the buckets will have a bigger cut out where the center console rests.


I converted my OEM bench to scheel-mann buckets in my RC awhile back. Still have the bench in storage...couldn't even give the bench away for free. No one wants it.